Mechanical musical instrument



(No Model.)

0. H. ARNG.

y MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSIZIWMIBNT.- No. 269,164. l Patented Deo. 12, 1882.

Il?! fija A UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

OLIVER H. ARNO, OF WILMINGTON, ASSIGNOR, TO THE AMERICAN AUTO- MATIC ORGAN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,164, dated December 12, 18(32.

Application filed March 14, 1895.

To all whom tt 'may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER H. ARNO, of Wilmington, in the count-y of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mechanical musical instruments wherein reeds or other sound dero vicesto besonnded by thepassage ofairthrough them are permitted or automatically caused to sound in accordance with a perforated music sheet or strip which is made to pass through the instrument, and asit so passes to open and close by its pertorations and unperforated portions air-passages in communication with the wind mechanism and the reeds or other sound devices.

The invention consists, first, in a mechanical 2o musical instrument, of bellows arranged in pairs, and those ofthe one pair at rightangles to those of the other pair, and all in communication with a common reservoir-bellows, and severally arranged for those of each pair to operate alternately and for those of the one pair to operate alternately with those ot' the other pair; second, in a mechanical musical instrument, bellows arranged in pairs, those of one pair working` at right angles to the working ot' another pair, and all in communication with a common reservoir-bellows, which is arranged at their sides to work in a plane at right angles to the working of the bellows aforesaid; third, in a mechanical musical instrument, bellows arranged in pairs, those of one pair working at right angles to those of another pair, and all in communication with a common reservoir-bellows, which is arranged at their sides to work in a plane at right angies to the working ot' the bellows, and connected to and operated from a common revolving crank-arm.

In the accompanying` plate ot' drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal vertical section from the front to the rear end et' the instrument. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the rear board ot' the easing removed. Fig. Sis a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. l, for a portion ofthe width ofthe instrument and a plan view 5o for the remaining portion ot' the width of the (No model.)

instrument with theJ reed-board removed. Fig. tis a central transverse vertical section on line 4 4 Fig. l. 5 is an elevation, but on a reduced scale at one side, with such sideboard of the casing removed, and the casing from front to rear in longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 6 is a plan view on a reduced scale. Figs. 7 and S horizontal sections, both on areduced scale on lines 7 7 and 8 S, respectively, of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, A A represent the boards making the two sides, and B and C are boards, respectively, making the front and rear ends, and D a board making the top, all of which are joined in any suitable manner, andpmahe substantially the casing of the instrument.

EEareforce-bellows,t'ourin number. These bellows are arranged in two pairs, and the two ofonepairare placed theoneaboveand theother below a common horizontal board, F, and each horizontally, and the two ofthe other pair are placed one upon each side of a common vertical board, G, and each vertically. The boards F and G are fixed in position between one ot' the side boards A-ot' the instrument and a vertical board, A2, which is between the two side boards, A A, and is secured in such position bybeingattachedto thehorizontaltopboard,l).

H is a reservoirbellows, attached to the intermediate vertical board,' A2, and between it and the side board, opposite to that side board ofthe instrument to which the horizontal and vertical bellows-boards F G were secured, as 1 described. The horizontal bellows-boardFhas air-passages a, leading to each ot' the horizontal bellows E, and air-passages l), leading from said air-passages through the intermediate vertical board, A2, to the vertical reservoirbellows H, attached to such board. The vertical force-bellows board G has air-passages c, leading to each of the vertical force-bellows E, and air-passages d, leading from such airpassages c through the intermediate board,A2, between the two sides A A, to the vertical reservoir-bellows H. The vertical reservoir-bellows H has a series of air-passages, j', (shown as three in number, but which may be more or less,) that lead from it through the horizontal top board,D,oftheinstrument-casing, and open into a chambeng, above said board, and having IOO above it the reed-board J, with its series of reed-chambers, h., and reeds l, as will be hereinafterfullydescribed. Thetwobellowsmaking each pair of horizontal and vertical force-bellows are connected together by a rod, m, so as to operate alternately, and to one bellows of each pair is connected one end of separate pitman-rods a o, that at their other ends are pivoted together and meet at an angle. The pitinan-rod connection a for the horizontal forcebellows is verticahand the pitman-rod connection 0 for the vertical force-bellowsis horizontal, and thelatter has an offset-arm, p, between its two points of connection, above described, which offset is hung upon a crank-arm, q, of a horizontal shaft, r, arranged to turn in suitable bearings of the side boards, A. This shaft r, at and along its length between the side boards, A, acts as the feed-roller ot` the instrument.

u is a crank-handle for turning the feed-roller shaft r, and thus 'the vertical and horizontal force-bellows are operated, and all from one and the same crank-arm, q, securing to either pair ot' such bellows an alternate movement thereof in relation to the other pair, and as to the bellows of each pair also an alternate movement.

The several force-bellows E E and reservoirbellows H, herein described, and except as particularly explained, are constructed and arranged as ordinarily, and in their operation secure the forcing of air through the air-passages fin the top board, D, into the chamber g, above such board, and thence through the reed-chambers h of the reed-board J above, according as such chambers are opened or are closed to said air-chamber g, between the reedboard J and top board, D, because ofthe passage of a perforated music-strip, K, as will hereinafter fully appear.

's is the presserroller, arranged above the feed-rollerr and otherwise, as usual in mechanical musical instruments. The musicsheet K passes between the presser and feed rollers s i', and thence over and along the upper dat surface t ot' a board, L. This board L covers the air-chamber g in communication with the bellows, as aforesaid, and it is secured at and around its several edges by leather e or other flexible material to and about the several sides ofthe air-chamber g in a manner to close said chamber on all sides' to the escape from or entrance into it of air, and to allow the said eXibly-connected board L to have a to-and-fro play in a vertical direction. This flexibly-connected board L has a longitudinal air-passage, w, through it, which crosses the several rows ofperforations in the music-sheet, and opens to the reed-chambers in the reedboard. The reed-board in position is directly above the flexibly-connected board L, and it rests upon and is secured to cheek-blocks x a' of the top board, D. The fastening ot' the reedhoard is by hooks and staple-pins. (Shown at y y, Fig. 2.) The flexibly-connected board and the under face of the reed-board make such close contact with the music-sheet K, which passes between them, as to prevent the air from the bellows being diverted in its course therefrom toy and through the reed-chambers, that are opened, because of the perl'orations in the music-sheet, and to prevent the air 0therwise from escaping between the music-sheet and its said covering and inclosing-surfaces of the reed-board and flexibly-connected board.

In the mechanical musical instrument described the several force bellows, because ot' their arrangement in pairs and those of either pair at right angles to those ofthe other pair, are enabled to be driven from one and the same crank-arm of a shaft, and in being so driven, for those of each pair so connected thereto to work alternately, and obviouslythesame would be true if, instead offorce-bellows, exhaust-bellows were similarly so arranged. Again, when the force-bellows are in operation, it is plain the ijcxibly-connected board L is made at all times to press closely against the music-strip and to hold it closely to the under side of the reed-board J, and thereby preventing, as has been herein in substance before stated, any possibility of leakage of air between these several parts, and securing the direct passage ot' the air through the perforations ot' the musicsheet K, the air-passage zo, in the flexiblyconneeted board L, and the reed-chambers lt, and reeds 7, and thence out at the openings z of the reed-chambers.

It desired, springs a2, as shown, may be coinbined with the flexibly-connected board or frame L, to exert a yielding pressure thereon in a direction to help to confine it against the music-strip and the strip against the reedboard.

The arrangementof bellows herein described is applicable to exhaust-bellows as well as to force-bellows. Again, the tlexiblyconnected board L, and air-chambery, may be used with mechanism for controlling valves to the reedchambers from the travel ofthe music-sheet.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In a mechanical musical instrument, bellows arranged in pairs, those ot'one pair working at right angles to the working of another pair, and all in communication with a common reservoir-bellows, and arranged for the bellows of one pair to work alternately as to each other and as to the bellows of another pair, all substantially as described.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, bellows arranged in pairs, those of one pair working at right angles to the working ot' another pair, and all in communication with a common reservoir-bellows, which is arranged at their sides to work in a plane at right angles to the working ofthe bellows aforesaid, substantially as described.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, bellows arranged in pairs, those ot'one pair work- IOO IIO

IIS

ing at righi; angles to those of another pair, In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my and all in communication with a common reshand in Jhe presence of two subscribing` wit- 1o ervoir-bellows, which is arranged at their sides nesses.

to work in a plane at right'J angles to theworking of the bellows, and connected to and operated from a common revolving' crank-arm, q, Titnessesz lall subszmtially as and in the relative manner EDWIN W. BROWN, described. XVM. S. BELLOWS.

OLIVER H. ARNO. 

